Industry research conducted by dog toy brand Chuckit! has revealed that over 80% of pet retailers in the UK have experienced an increase in dog toy sales since the dangers of sticks being highlighted in 2015. A massive 92% of retailers also said that the launchers and balls are the best overall range from Chuckit! – further highlighting the growing demand for alternatives to stick retrieval on walks.

Questioning visitors at the Pedigree Trade Show 2017, Chuckit! quizzed a variety of retailers from across the country to discover the latest trends from the pet retail industry, as well as harvest insight into how they feel about the Chuckit! brand.

With almost 60% of those questioned revealing their customers already walk in to store looking for the Chuckit! brand, over 69% of retailers also said customers are increasingly choosing to invest in better quality toys that will stand the test of time — showing that durable, quality toys are more of a priority for the consumer than ever before.

Looking to how retailers have evolved their connection with their customers, 85% of those surveyed cited investing heavily in Facebook as a core channel focus. But it seems there is still even greater support manufactures can supply, with half of those quizzed calling for greater levels of marketing support.

Will Baggaley, Brand Manager for Chuckit!, comments: “The Pedigree Trade Show is a huge date in our diary every year as it’s such a great opportunity to connect with retailers and discover how their customer trends can influence the products that we sell and the ways in which we support them.

“The results of the survey meet the trends we’ve noted too, and it’s exciting for us that we are hitting the right notes with our marketing activity — with our annual Chuckit! Challenge competition we run on Facebook giving retailers the opportunity to get collaboratively involved.”

The research by Chuckit! was undertaken at the UK’s biggest wholesaler show in the pet trade, the Pedigree Trade Show on 14th June 2017 at the East of England Showground.